A Golden Chain

The second benefit is a recovery of that right and title, which man hath to all creatures in heaven and earth, and all temporal blessings; which right Adam lost to himself and every one of his posterity. 1. Cor. 3.22. Whether it be the world, or life, or death: whether they be things present, or things to come, all are yours. Now the right way of knowing this one benefit is this. When God vouchsafeth meat, drink, apparel, houses, lands, &c. we must not barely consider them as blessings of God, for that very heathen men, which know not Christ can do: but we must acknowledge and esteem them as blessings proceeding from the special love of god the father, whereby he loves us in Christ: and procured unto us by the merit of Christ crucified: and we must labour in this point to be settled and persuaded: and so oft as we see and use the creatures of God for our own benefit, this point should come to our minds. Blessings conceived apart from Christ are misconceived: whatsoever they are in themselves they are no blessings to us but in and by Christs merit. Therefore this order must be observed touching earthly blessings: first we must have part in the merit of Christ, and then secondly by means of that merit, a right before God and comfortable use of the things we enjoy. All men that have and use the creatures of God otherwise, as gifts of God but not by Christ, use them but as flat usurpers and thieves. For this cause it is not sufficient for us generally & confusedly to know Christ to be our redeemer, but we must learn to see, know, and acknowledge him in every particular gift and blessing of God. If men using the creatures of meat and drink; could, when they behold them, withal by the eye of faith behold in them the merit of Christs passion, there would not be so much excess and riot, so much surfeiting and drunkenness, as there is: and if men could consider their houses and lands, &c. as blessings to them & that by the fountain of blessing the merits of Christ, there should not be so much fraud and deceit, so much injustice and oppression in bargaining as there is.

The second benefit is a recouerie of that right and title, which man hath to all creatures in heauen and earth, and all temporall blessings; which right Adam lost to himselfe and euery one of his posteritie. 1. Cor. 3.22. Whether it be the world, or life, or death: whether they be things present, or things to come, all are yours. Nowe the right way of knowing this one benefit is this. When God vouchsafeth meate, drinke, apparell, houses, lands, &c. we must not barely cō sider them as blessings of God, for that very heathen men, which knowe not Christ can doe: but we must acknowledge and esteeme them as blessings proceeding from the special loue of god the father, wherby he loues vs in Christ: and procured vnto vs by the merit of Christ crucified: and we must labour in this point to be setled and perswaded: and so oft as we see and vse the creatures of God for our owne benefit, this point should come to our mindes. Blessings conceiued apart from Christ are misconceiued: whatsoeuer they are in themselues they are no blessings to vs but in and by Christs merit. Therefore this order must be obserued touching earthly blessings: first we must haue part in the merit of Christ, and then secondly by meanes of that merit, a right before God and comfortable vse of the things wee enioy. All men that haue and vse the creatures of God otherwise, as gifts of God but not by Christ, vse thē but as flat vsurpers and theeues. For this cause it is not sufficient for vs generally & confusedly to knowe Christ to bee our redeemer, but wee must learne to see, knowe, and acknowledge him in euery particular gift and blessing of God. If men vsing the creatures of meate and drinke; could, when they behold them, withall by the eie of faith beholde in them the merit of Christs passion, there would not be so much excesse and riot, so much urfetting and drunkennes, as there is: and if men could consider their houses and lands, &c. as blessings to them & that by the fountaine of blessing the merits of Christ, there should not be so much fraud and deceit, so much iniustice and oppression in bargaining as there is.